Sitting Uneven

[Zedguy]

Hi all,

 

Sorry if this has been asked, and answered, before. I did a search, but did't see it.  I am in the final phases of a 10 year resto project on my '73. It should be very exciting, but I have hit a head scratcher. The car is still without the glass, interior, exhaust, manifolds, carbs, etc.....so still has some weight to come, but it is sitting pretty uneven. The driver's side of the car is almost an inch higher than the passenger side. I have new Tokico blues in it.....with the Suspension Techniques lowering springs I put in it about 14 years ago. The car was only driven sparingly in the summer and has been apart for 10 years now....so I expect the springs to be fine. It also sat with a nice squat when it was all taken apart.

 

I started to panic that maybe the new rails had somehow been put in slightly off, but the gaps on all the body panels have never been better. Doors, fenders, hood are probably better than factory. The car saw two different body guys over the project, and the one who didn't do the rails believes them to be good. I know that without a jig....there are no guarantees, but the panel gaps are MUCH better than when it was taken apart.

 

Anyone else come across this before their cars were completely assembled? Should I stop worrying and just get the car together and take it from there?  

 

I just figured it wouldn't hurt to get some input from those who may have been through this. Perhaps you will make me feel worse....but better to face it.

 

Thanks,

Eric

[gnosez]

Well the carbs and stock exhaust manifold weigh in at say 30 lbs.

Are these the same doors as before? An older door would be lighter without the crash-bar. I'd also look at all the suspension bits to see if something is not tight and snugged up to where it should be. Say like the spring is not sitting in the perches in the right place.

Also if the car is not sitting on a completely level surface it will look off.

No offense but what do you weigh? It might be level with you in it.

After hours of trying to corner balance a 240 we realized that the floor was not flat. Off to get a laser level and several more hours of shimming the four corner balance stands to get things dead spot on.

Car turns out to be perfectly balanced that is until you get in it. More time spend moving coil-overs up and down. Grumble, grumble....

[black gold man]

If the car was jacked up then let down the suspension will bind up and sit funny. Roll the car 10 feet and it will settle down. Could be it. 

[John Coffey]

C'mon... the car has been apart for 10 years and is not fully assembled and you're worried about ride height?

[Zed Head]

 I have new Tokico blues in it.....with the Suspension Techniques lowering springs I put in it about 14 years ago. The car was only driven sparingly in the summer and has been apart for 10 years now....so I expect the springs to be fine. It also sat with a nice squat when it was all taken apart.

Not really clear when the suspension was assembled.  Maybe you didn't get the spring properly seated in it's perch.  There's a spot for the ends of the spring coils to sit in.

[Zedguy]

Thanks to all but John. It never ceases to amaze me how there is always one person on a forum that feels the need to belittle other member's questions. If you don't like the question...ignore it. (which is what I should likely be doing regarding your response.....but I dislike Bullies and people who feel brave behind a keyboard)

 

The stance is off enough that if it is due to a structural issue, it would make more sense to deal with it before the car is fully assembled. I turn to this Forum in case anyone else has had similar issues and would be kind enough to share their knowledge. No sense trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

Chances are that it will right itself once assembled....and I am finally behind the wheel again. :-)

[240260280z]

Maybe put  the car on jack stands w/o the wheels and take some measurements to the floor. This will tell if it is the body or suspension that is causing the tilt.

 

btw I know both you and John.. and you are both good guys so no worries about the rough introduction above  John is one of the world experts on Z suspensions and set up so despite his spartan reply I'm sure he can offer some great advice or you can find it in the archives.

 

I can drop by on the weekend to have a look.

[gnosez]

Blue, putting the car up on stands when the floor could be uneven will not provide a valid test.

 

Zedguy - I truly meant no offense asking about your weight, since it could be a factor in balancing your Z.

 

As to hiding behind a laptop or being a bully (would love to hear your definition) I offer the following:

 

John Jeffery

President, Z Car Club of New England

Owner, Bad Dog Parts (www.baddogparts.com)

email: john@baddogparts.com

Look for me at this year's ZCON in Memphis

Come to Barber Motorsport Park (2/7-8) Summit Point (5/13-17). Thompson (6/18-21),

Memphis (7/14-18), LRP Historics #33 (9/4-7) and Dominion 10/9-11

[gnosez]

Ahhh, the other John, the real true to life Z suspension guru. The man who is building a Peking to Paris (Old school trip means old school spelling) 240Z.

 

If he wasn't 3000 miles away my Z would live in his shop between race events.

[Zed Head]

Thanks to all but John. It never ceases to amaze me how there is always one person on a forum that feels the need to belittle other member's questions.

He made a joke, that was on target.  It was funny.  I laughed.  Not even close to bullying.  Your reaction is waaaaaaay overblown.   You got so focused on the perceived insult, that wasn't even there, that you didn't address any of the suggestions that were made.  Did you roll the car after putting it on the ground?  When did you do the work?  Are the springs properly seated? 

 

Then internet is not meant for communication, it's meant for transferring large data files. 

[John Coffey]

Its probably not a structural issue.  It actually takes a lot to mess up the structure on these cars enough to affect ride height.  Buy hey, I'm just an Internet Bully.  I guess he missed my title on this site (Crumudgeon).  As I implied, you have more important things to worry about after a 10 year restoration then the ride height on a car that is not fully assembled, the suspension not settled, the bushings not torqued in place with the car on the ground, etc.

[Captain Obvious]

bushings not torqued in place with the car on the ground, etc.

 

That was what I was thinking.